Text By Emma Davies
To say that ‘I am not a morning person’ is somewhat of an understatement. Yet, here I was at 5:30am on a Sunday morning attempting to apply a liberal amount of bright pink eyeshadow to my face. Why? Because competition day had arrived at last!
The ISTD Southend competition was to be only my second dance competition, but ever since experiencing the thrill of whirling round the dance floor in Bournemouth I knew I had been well and truly bitten by the ballroom bug and I was determined to look the part and dance like my life depended on it! I had hardly slept a wink, rehearsing my steps and posture in my mind and had spent countless hours in the week sewing sequins onto my Latin dress to add just that extra sparkle! But I was ready at last.
It was a cold, dark start to the day, driving with my friends Pete and Tory up the M25 but we arrived in plenty of time and hurriedly found our seats and changed into our finery, trying to remain composed in amongst the hairspray fuelled hubbub of the ladies changing rooms (applying false eyelashes when nervous is a tricky and slightly stressful business let me tell you!)
The hall seemed huge and intimidating and freezing cold but once I collected my number (lucky 247) my adrenaline started pumping and after a quick practice I was first up, kicking the day off with a Waltz in the under 35’s social dance solos.
It seemed to go smoothly and it felt really good to get my first dance out the way and some of my nerves began to subside as I adjusted to the buzz and atmosphere of excitement and anticipation that surrounded me.
The rest of the day seemed to fly by and yet last forever all at the same time! Sharing in the successes and disappointments, highs and lows, with all my fellow Dancerite competitors. Being able to watch the other more experienced and accomplished dancers compete was fantastic fun and so inspiring…..one day, just maybe, that could be me?!
To my total amazement and joy I was called back not just once, but several times, making it through the quarter finals and into the semi- finals for both my Waltz and Cha cha cha in the solo events. I was so unprepared for this that I was practically shoved down the steps to the dance floor still wearing my coat by my rather enthusiastic and supportive friends on hearing my number called!
By the time the couples events were under way I was simply enjoying throwing myself into every move and every step especially in the Latin and grinning inanely at my wonderful dance partner Pete, who had kept me calm and focused during my earlier moments of panic.
When the day drew to a close and I watched the awards being given out to the proud winners, I felt so glad to have been a part of such a brilliant day, to have seen some amazing dancers and beautiful dresses and shared in the passion of Ballroom dancing.
As I crawled, completely shattered, into my bed that night I dreamt of sequins and spin turns and of taking home a medal of my very own and making it to the dizzy heights of Blackpool!
Eleanor Roosevelt once said ‘the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams’ fingers crossed she turns out to be right!
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